Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Arch Newton is dead. Now his family has to pick up the pieces but keep a promise had made to his client’s son. Beth, Winnie and Garrett are not looking forward to Marcus coming but none of them are willing to tell him no. This will be the first summer without Arch around and there will be a lot of thingw\ that will need to be dealt with. Old loves, new love, past decisions, and futures all in one summer. The Newton family may be summer people but this summer will be one that will change their lives forever.

Ms. Hilderbrand is a fantastic author. I was truly impressed with how well she was able to tell the story through four people’s eyes. Beth, Winnie, Garrett and Marcus all got equal time in this book for the most part. This book was jammed pack full of emotions and it carried the book through.

Beth had the most problems. Seeing her old love was tough for her but then dealing with the death of her husband made it more difficult. She wanted her kids to have a good summer and to put a memory together no matter what. Garrett was upset that Marcus had come. He wanted this summer to just be about his family no matter what! Winnie did not mind that Marcus was there. She liked having him around. Marcus saw a family hurting and wanted to help anyway he could. He may be more of help than he could imagine. He is struggling with something on his own. His mother and the murder she committed as well as the opportunity that presented to him.

At first, this book really and truly depressed me. I was not sure I could even finish it. But as the story progressed, I began to understand the motives each character had and it helped the book immensely. Ms. Hilderbrand has a unique style all her own that truly gives you almost everything you ask for so that there are not any questions at all or if need be just a few. I definitely want to read more by her.

Elin Hilderbrand/368 pages/New Author/ Fiction/ Family/ 4 out of 5

I just finished another review book and then one more to read after that. Then I plan on tackling the leaning tower of books. lol